Gers in Gascony
What is a "Hôtel Particulier" ?
18th century terrazzo floors
In the purest Italian tradition
An "Hôtel particulier" is a private luxury and historic townhouse built in the front style, i.e. directly on the street, with a succession of 4 rooms known as "parade rooms" on the street side: entrance hall with majestic stairwell featuring oak blossom motifs, music vestibule, library and boudoir.
On the garden side, hidden behind a pair of XVIIIth century double doors, are the more private rooms, also in a row: bedroom-lounge with bathroom and private porch, large lounge, dining room, large kitchen opening on to an Italian-style patio.
The Hôtel de Mellet is what we call an "Hôtel particulier du devant" (front private mansion). It differs from other mansions in that it does not have an interior courtyard facing the street. The Mellet hotel thus has on the street front, all the "parade rooms" in a row for visitors, replacing the "courtyard side". The living rooms only face the “garden side” to offer perfect privacy to its owners.
History of the property
It is safe to say that this "Hôtel particulier" was born entirely out of the dream and tenacity of its first lady of the house, Louise de Mellet, at the turn of the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI.
Louise de Mellet, wife of Alexandre Copin who commanded the Royal Fort of Martinique, dreamt of a town house on her return from Martinique. The choice of location for the hotel directly on the street, i.e. without a courtyard of honour, was a source of tension between the couple. Alexandre Copin already owned the Chartreuse de Lagarde in the Gascony countryside.
But his wife probably won the battle, and so the Hôtel de Mellet was remodelled. The originality of the place: the initials above the entrance door can be read in 2 directions: from the street: L d M, for Louise de Mellet. From the hall, ACL for Alexandre Copin, owner of Lagarde, near Fourcès.
Louise was the sister of Antoine de Mellet, Marquis de Bonas, who financed several private mansions in Condom, and the daughter of Laurent de Mellet and Françoise d'Auxion de Vivent, niece of the previous Marquis de Bonas, Lieutenant General of the King's armies. Louise and Antoine's mother inherited the land of Bonas in 1772 after a 20-year succession dispute with her 2 sisters. It is likely that part of this colossal inheritance, from which her brother Antoine benefited, contributed to the luxurious restructuring of Louise de Mellet's hotel.
MELLET TODAY
The current owners of the Hôtel de Mellet are committed to preserving and renovating it as part of the local tourism ecosystem. The hotel is part of a discovery tour of Condom's private mansions and is now also available for exclusive rental as a 4-star holiday home. When you book the Hôtel de Mellet for your stay, you can be sure of staying in a unique historic building, entirely dedicated to your comfort.